The Most Common House Plants
There's nothing like a plant to liven up a living room. If you're a newbie to the world of houseplants, it isn't easy to figure out what plants will thrive in your home.
We asked the experts of plant care to share their most-loved common house plants--from fashionable newcomers to classics that have stood the test of time. Get your watering bottle, and read on to get ideas for greenery!
Peace Lily
This popular plant, also called the Cobra Plant or Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum wallisii), was the most searched-for plant on a variety of online home furnishings sites in 2023. It's not a surprise considering this plant's beauty and air-purifying qualities.
The peace lily has long been a staple for anyone who is looking for an attractive houseplant that is easy to maintain. The white flowers (which, technically aren't true flowers, but bracts) appear in spring and fade in autumn. However, a few sprays of water and you'll be rewarded with flowers in the fall.
They prefer a warm, humid climate with temperatures of 68-85F during the day, and dropping to 10 degrees at night. The soil should be moist, but not soggy. Indoor lighting that is filtering can help them grow. Avoid direct sunlight as it could cause burning to the leaves. Make sure to water frequently however, make sure that the soil doesn't dry out completely, as this can result in root rot.
If your peace lily begins to appear a little yellow You're probably overwatering it. If you're unsure of what frequency to water your peace lily, a good rule of thumb to adhere to is to water it when the top inch or so of soil is dry. When you water, make sure to use distilled or filtered water to keep the chlorine at a minimum.
big house plants with peace lilies is the browning of leaf tips. This can be caused by sunburn however, more often it's a sign of excess fertilizer. To treat it, water the soil until the water is able to drain out through the drainage holes. Then, stop fertilizing for six months.
Many people believe that their peace lily has died when they see only green flowers. The reason for this is that if your plant was fertilized to flower it could have been given too many nitrogens, which hinders the plant's ability to grow flowers. Switch to a fertilizer with less nitrogen and phosphorous. Also move your peace lily to a brighter area to encourage blooms. If that doesn't help you, experiment with a different variety of peace lily or even a new type of fertilizer.
Spider Plant
Spider plants are a favorite for a good reason--they're easy to grow, and they produce a lot of baby "spiderettes" on their edges. They can be rooted, and detached to create new plants. This makes the Spider Plant a great choice for those who are new to houseplants, as it's very hardy and can take a little slight amount of neglect.
The first Spider Plant, Chlorophytum comosum is a long grassy plant that comes in a variety colors including stripes and yellow. It produces tiny white plantlets that can be trimmed and planted. If it is planted in hanging baskets, the long wiry stems can make a impressive and stunning display.
The Spider Plant as well as the Peace Lily is a versatile and adaptable plant that is able to thrive in most lighting conditions. However, it does require bright indirect sunlight to keep its variegated leaves in good condition. Avoid direct sunlight because the variegated Spider Plant will burn. It is also essential to keep soil moist but not too wet. The soil should be just wetted enough to allow water droplets to fall from the leaves to the container.
You can avoid soggy soil by using smaller pots and the potting mix. You can even make it yourself. Another thing to keep in mind is that Spider Plants respond well to basic, all-purpose fertilizer--though you shouldn't over-fertilize them because this could cause salt build-up in the soil.
One of the advantages of the Spider Plant is that it's known to purify the air in your home by removing indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde. It is recommended to put the plant in an area where there's a lot of sunlight, so that it can absorb these chemicals and assist to eliminate them through its foliage. The plant can be utilized in conjunction with other plants to improve the air quality inside your home. It's even been shown to eliminate odors, such as smoke and cooking smells.
Fiddle Leaf Fig
The fiddle leaf fig called Ficus Lyrata is the most popular plant due to its beautiful, violin-shaped leaves. This tropical plant thrives in humid and warm climates. It's easy to comprehend why people are drawn to it. It can grow to a large size and create a visual impact to any room.
This popular plant can be susceptible to mold and other fungi. It is essential to keep a close watch on the plant to watch for these conditions, especially when you're using soil that's been in place for a number of years. It's also important to change the soil frequently to keep the plant healthy and reduce the risk for infections.
Overwatering a fiddle-leaf fig is one of the most common mistakes. They're native to rainforest-like environments which is where they are used to a flood of water, followed by dry periods, so you need to only water them lightly and allow the soil to dry out completely between waters.
It's also important to keep the plants free from dust and other debris that can block the leaves and block photosynthesis. This can be accomplished by wiping the leaves with a damp cloth every week. This will maintain the health of the plant, and keep the pests out, too.
Other than the occasional fungus or mildew, there are few other serious problems that could be affecting a fig with a fiddle leaf. It is essential to watch out for scale insects, and other pests that commonly attack plants in the home, such as aphids or mealy bugs. Also, be looking out for thrips, which could cause the leaves to turn yellow.
It's also an excellent idea to periodically mist the fiddle leaf figs with spray bottles in order to increase the humidity in your home. This is particularly beneficial in winter, when indoor air is drier. It is recommended to mist your plant early in the morning so that it can be allowed to evaporate.
Dracaena
Dracaenas are a well-loved house plant that thrives in a variety of indoor settings. They tend to be low-maintenance and slow-growing, but some varieties (such as the 'Lemon Lime' dracaena) have bright shades that lighten the shaded areas of the home.
The lanced, spiky leaves of the dracaena come in various shades and patterns that give it a unique look that is both modern and rustic simultaneously. Some dracaenas are solid forest green, whereas others feature yellow, red, or white stripes. The leaves also bend slightly to give it a tree-like appearance.
Like a lot of tropical plants, the dracaenas thrive in indirect light and can tolerate a shaded environment. Remember, however that a lack of sunlight can result in the loss of variegations and other characteristics that are distinctive.
Avoid over-watering dracaenas since this could cause root rot as well as other problems. The soil must be allowed to dry out completely before watering again. If you notice that a plant is becoming wilted and wilting, move it to an area that is more sunny or mist the leaves with plain tap water to add moisture to the air.
Pests rarely bother dracaenas but occasional checks are still important to help keep the plants healthy. Aphids are insects with no wings which can squeeze juices from buds, stems, and leaves of dracaenas. This can slow their growth and reduces vigor.
You can also find mealybugs and scale insects, which are covered in a cottony material. If they are not controlled these pests could suffocate the plant by sucking the sap from its leaves.
Propagation of dracaenas is easy and simple with cuttings of the tip, which can be harvested throughout the year. To start new plants, simply cut a tip that is 8cm in length and above a node of the parent plant. Place the tip in a container of water on a window sill and refresh the water regularly. After a few weeks, roots should be growing and you can pot up the plant in fresh, draining soil.
Dracaenas can be prone to fluoride. It is therefore important to use only non-fluoridated dracaena water. It is also an excellent idea to fertilize the plant with a 'Houseplant'-branded feed every four waterings during spring and summer, decreasing this frequency slightly in the winter and autumn.